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# Polish leaders criticised by EU parliament over LGBTQ+ rights
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/polish-leaders-criticised-by-eu-parliament-over-lgbtq-rights/
- Published: 2020-09-16T09:26:12.000Z
- Updated: 2020-09-16T08:26:56.000Z
- Description: Poland’s anti-LGBTQ+ governmental policies were attacked by the European parliament as some called for the country to lose EU funding.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Queer Corner, Andrzej Duda, Eu, Europe, Judith Butler, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Poland, LGBTQ+ rights, Poland

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/200713-poland-lgbt600400.png)

**Poland’s** anti-LGBTQ+ governmental policies were attacked by the European parliament on **Monday 14 September** as some called for the country to lose EU funding. The parliamentary meeting discussed a recent report by **Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar** (a Spanish lawmaker who heads the Committee on Civil Liberties) on fundamental rights in Poland. Aguilar[ reportedly](https://www.chron.com/news/article/Poland-criticized-in-EU-Parliament-over-courts-15566211.php?ref=scenemag.co.uk) stated Poland is digressing from core EU values, and called the situation ‘extremely concerning’.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/duda-poland-600.jpg)

Anti-LGBTQ+ Polish president Andrzej Duda.

LGBTQ+ rights have been the topic of discussion in Poland since anti-LGBTQ+ president **Andrzej Duda** was re-elected this year, giving him another five more years in power. Duda has vowed to crack down on ‘LGBTQ+ ideology’ which he [believes](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53039864?ref=scenemag.co.uk) is ‘more destructive’ than 20th century communism. Since his re-election, LGBTQ+ activists have been [arrested](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/polish-lgbtq-activists-arrested/) and some queer people have fled the country in fear.

[Previously](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/eu-denies-funding-for-lgbtq-free-polish-towns/), some ‘LGBTQ+ free’ towns in Poland were denied EU funding in a move to tackle the ongoing situation. Famous figures such as Margaret Attwood and Judith Butler also signed an [open letter](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/famous-figures-sign-letter-in-support-of-polish-lgbtq-community/) in solidarity with Poland’s LGBTQ+ community as it has experienced ‘growing homophobic aggression’.

Despite efforts to alleviate the situation, tensions have continued to grow in Poland. **Sophia in’t Veld**, a Dutch parliament member, said to the EU parliament ‘we see Poland crossing red line after red line’. She called on EU leaders to take firmer action against the Polish government.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/poland-protests-lgbt-600400.jpg)